The James Bond Big Three

For half a century Bond, James Bond has been on the big screens saving the world, getting the girl and drinking his drink “shaken not stirred.”

But the beauty of the Bond films is that the fans can debate which James is their all-time favorite for various reasons.

There are six different James Bonds in the 23 movies but to me there are a “Big Three” that have made the character of Bond what he is today.

The James Bond Big Three are Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

Yes, some Bond fans love Roger Moore, the clueless 007 from the 70s and 80s who was in seven films but I leave him out because whenever I watch him I feel like he is more of a cartoon character than a British assassin.

As for Timothy Dalton, well let’s just say GoldenEye in 1995 was a sigh of relief for most Bond fans.

The reason the Big Three James Bonds are the best and most memorable to viewers is because they are so relatable.

Sean Connery is the classic Bond with his 60s swagger so he is almost like a cool grandfather reliving his glory days.

Peirce Brosnan, the smooth Bond from the 90s and early 2000s, has a presence to him like a father that you want be like as a kid growing up.

Daniel Craig is the brutal modern Bond that a college-aged guy can relate to because they want to be him.

Back in the 60s Sean Connery put James Bond on the map with his role in the first movie “Dr. No” in 1962.

Connery cracked jokes as he cheated death, attracted women and saved the day as the 00 agent for MI6.

His Scottish accent and raised eyebrow were commonplace in films like “From Russia with Love” in 1963 and “Goldfinger” in 1964.

The six Sean Connery James Bond films are automatics for any Bond movie collector.

After close to two decades of Bond movies that make you want to lean towards a trash can, Pierce Brosnan exploded on the scene with “GoldenEye” in 1995.

“GoldenEye” was accompanied with a video game for Nintendo 64 that fueled the popularity of the film and of Brosnan as 007.

Brosnan brought a polished, charming confidence that he used throughout his four films as Bond.

The 20th James Bond movie was “Die Another Day” in 2002 and it was Brosnan’s last movie so there was a big question mark as to who would and could fill the shoes left by the best Bond since the great Connery.

Daniel Craig was that answer when he became 007 in the 2006 film “Casino Royal.”

Craig brought a large dose of realty to the role of Bond which better fits the style of movies being made with detailed chase scenes and the way the MI6 agent kills people.

For Sean Connery, he would kill a foe by throwing a lamp into a bathtub to shock the man to death.

Pierce Brosnan would take out a foe by using his surroundings or gadgets to his advantage like his exploding pen.

Then there is Daniel Craig as Bond drowning a guy in a sink to kill him.

All three of the best James Bonds have their own style, but when they are put together they make the definition of what 007 is all about, timeless and unforgettable.